This book feels like a fraught love letter to Zauner's mom, who died of cancer when Zauner was in her mid-20s, wrestling with all the things people go through when trying to find their footing in the world as an independent, functioning adult. She examines her bi-racial, bi-cultural identity and captures the complexity of mother/daughter relationships, all while making it seem effortless to write sentences that any MFA program would give a standing O. I hadn't realized she is also a musician until the end of the book, which then prompted me to go check out her band on twitter.